The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth. 2 John 1
Who was that ‘elect lady’ that John is referring to in our text? Many have guesses, but nobody knows for sure. If you will permit me, I have a guess. This elect lady is not a specific woman, but an Assembly. And the children that John mentions are the members of that Assembly’s fellowship. That is a guess, and even if it is wrong, the apostle’s messages to this elect lady apply the same.
John’s first message is a commandment in verse 5 to love one another. And he explains in verse 6 that this love is walking in our Father’s commandments. This is different from the denominations around us who think they are showing love to wicked sinners by overlooking or even rejecting God’s commandments. John speaks in this epistle of rejoicing as he sees this lady’s children – or this Assembly’s members – walking in truth. It will cause our Father’s heart to rejoice too, if we recognize and obey the truth. There is no room in our love for each other for disobedience to the Word of God.
John also had a warning about the deceivers who were teaching lies about the person of Christ. This is so serious that John calls these deceivers antichrist. And he strongly urges against having anything to do with anyone who denies the deity and the work of Christ. This advice is for us today, as we see so many around us with their many and varied denials of the truth about our Lord and Saviour.
John’s second epistle is small. But its messages to us are huge. Heed them. -Jim MacIntosh
Here is the link to the video of this message: https://youtu.be/XSlGGGNU394